UK Prime Minister Introduces Plan B COVID Restrictions

The British prime minister told a press briefing in Downing Street the government would review whether to keep the new rules no later than January and before that if possible.

According to report, Boris Johnson has announced he is introducing Plan B COVID restrictions to curb infections and contain the spread of the Omicron variant.

Work-from-home guidance will return, vaccine passports will become mandatory in large venues and mask rules will be extended to combat the Omicron variant, the Prime Minister said.

He warned it was clear the new strain was “growing much faster” than Delta and cases could be doubling every two or three days.

But he refused to give a fixed date and said it would be linked to how severe Omicron turned out to be and how effective these measures were in combatting its spread.

He added it was okay to proceed with nativity plays and Christmas parties but everyone should “exercise due caution” by having ventilation, washing their hands and getting a COVID test before they went.

The UK reported 45,691 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday. The seven-day rolling rate of new cases is 12.1% higher than this time last week. A further 101 cases of Omicron were confirmed, bringing the UK total to 437.

A member of the public receives a second dose of a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine jab at a temporary coronavirus vaccination centre set up inside St John's Church in west London on December 4, 2021. - Britain, which has been among the hardest hit by Covid-19 with more than 145,000 deaths, is racing to offer third doses of coronavirus vaccines to all adults aged over 18 through its state-run National Health Service.

Here is what Plan B means for you and your plans over the coming weeks

Vaccine passports for certain large-scale events

The NHS Covid pass is to be made mandatory in England for nightclubs and venues where large crowds gather in a week's time.

Johnson said: “We will also make the NHS Covid pass mandatory for entry into nightclubs and venues where large crowds gather, including unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people.

“The NHS Covid pass can still be obtained with two doses but we will keep this under review as the boosters roll out.

“And having taken clinical advice since the emergence of Omicron, a negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient.

“As we set out in Plan B, we will give businesses a week’s notice, so this will come into force in a week’s time, helping to keep these events and venues open at full capacity while giving everyone who attends them confidence that those around them have done the responsible thing to minimise risk to others.”